As Australia wrapped up the third Test at Auckland well into the fourth day's play, New Zealand's agony was put to an end with a 2-0 series loss at home to the world-beaters. In perhaps one of New Zealand's worst showings, Stephen Fleming faces a whole set of questions and the team will require a huge overhaul.

New Zealand showed a glimmer of hope early on in the first innings with Hamish Marshall and skipper Fleming chalking out a 126-run third wicket partnership. While Fleming ran into decent form finally with a sixty-five to his name, it was Marshall who once again showed off his talent and exuberance notching seventy-six valuable runs. But New Zealand lost three wickets later in the day, and they were struggling once more at 122 for the loss of five wickets. They did manage to put 292 on the board even as Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne once again proved the chief tormentors with three wickets apiece.

Australia faced early hiccups before Ricky Ponting was flair personified, as he changed the complexion of the momentum with a terrific century. Although he did depart, falling to Nathan Astle soon after his century, Australia were once again on the upswing. Contributions flowed all round but Adam Gilchrist stood out with his near run-a-ball sixty that added the sparkle to the innings as Australia nosed ahead with 383 at the end of their first innings.

New Zealand found themselves in deep mire at twenty-three for the loss of four wickets with skipper Fleming and the two Marshall brothers back in the pavilion. Lou Vincent's brief innings of forty was cut short by a brilliant run out. But Nathan Astle and Daniel Vettori provided resistance. The momentum generated with the partnership with Vincent gave way to an eighty-one run partnership between the dashing batsman and New Zealand's premier spinner and more than useful all-rounder. They matched each other in identical scores of sixty-five, but more importantly, helped New Zealand to a modest but in hindsight, respectable lead of 166. McGrath's early blows and Warne's clinical finishes were yet again there for everyone to behold in awe, with both bowlers taking four wickets each.

The threat of rain loomed, but Ricky Ponting wasted little time and smashed another half-century even as Justin Langer picked a half-century for himself. Ponting's swashbuckling unbeaten eighty-two rushed matters for his team as it completed the rout in New Zealand, much to the despair of the home spectators.